Deadly viruses in a Norwegian cemetery preserved by the cold weather in a state of inactivity...and the government forbids burial of the dead!

Weather of Arabia - Sinan Khalaf - we all know that snow and low temperatures preserve the bodies of the dead for tens of thousands of years, preserve their shape and prevent them from decomposing, this is exactly what happens in very cold regions of the world, including the "Svalbard Islands".

The islands of "Svalbard Islands" are located in the far north of the globe, where the North Pole is, and there is a small town called "Town of Longyearbyen" that follows the rule of Norway, characterized by very cold weather throughout the year.

Winter temperatures range between -30 and -20 degrees Celsius, and until July, which is the warmest month in Longyearbyen, the average temperature ranges between -5 and -9 degrees Celsius.

With these harsh weather conditions, the townspeople used to bury their dead in the town's cemetery, but burials were stopped by a government decision, after traces of the deadly Spanish flu virus were discovered in the body of a miner who was buried in the town's cemetery in 1918.

Because of the cold soil in the cemetery, the bodies buried in it do not decompose, and remain frozen for many years, and with it some viruses can remain in a dormant state, which means that any tampering with these tombs may mean a new spread of the deadly virus.

As for the newly dead, they are sent to neighboring villages and towns for burial. In some exceptional cases, the bodies are cremated after issuing a special permit from the official authorities.